Hundreds of millions of people suffer from depression around the world (Picture: Getty)
An ancient practice could offer new hope to those with depression after scientists discovered the powerful effects of acupuncture on patients – with a particular focus on their ears.
Scientists in Brazil discovered that twice-weekly sessions of just 15 minutes over six weeks could improve recovery rates by almost 60%, similar to studies focusing on treatments using drugs.
Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which estimates the disorder affects 5% of adults around the world.
In Brazil, the figure is 15.5%, one of the highest in the world.
However, many with depression both in South America and across the globe do not receive adequate treatment, often because of the cost of antidepressants or their side-effects, which include stomach issues and a lower sex drive.
Anecdotally, auricular acupuncture – acupuncture of the ear – has been shown to effectively treat depression, but its safety and effectiveness has not yet been established by trials.
A participant receives auricular acupuncture (Picture: FM-USP)
To investigate further, researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL) conducted a study involving 74 patients with moderate or moderately severe depression. Most, 84%, were women, and the average age was 29.
The participants were split into two groups of 37. Both received 12 sessions of acupuncture to their ears over six weeks.
One group was given specific auricular acupuncture (SA), used specifically in Chinese medicine for treating depression, stimulating six points on the outer ear corresponding to shenmen (spirit), subcortex, heart, lung, liver, and kidney.
The other group received non-specific treatment (NSA) using points not associated with symptoms of mental illness – pinna, cheek, face, and four points on the helix.
How does acupuncture work?
Western medical acupuncture (dry needling) is the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis. It involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles.
This results in the body producing natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins. It’s likely that these naturally released substances are responsible for the beneficial effects experienced with acupuncture.
A course of acupuncture is usually recommended because it can take a few sessions for you to see improvements.
Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or “life force”, flows through the body in channels called meridians. This life force is known as Qi (pronounced “chee”).
Practitioners who use acupuncture in the traditional way believe that when Qi does not flow freely through the body, this can cause illness. They also believe acupuncture can restore the flow of Qi, and so restore health.
Source: NHS
Participants were assessed at four weeks, six weeks and three months.
The results found that 58% of those receiving SA had improved by at least 50%, with 43% in the NSA group reporting recovery.
In addition, those receiving specific auricular acupuncture were more likely to still be in recovery or remission after three months.
‘Our results showed almost 60% recovering from depression thanks to specific auricular acupuncture,’ said first author Professor Daniel Maurício de Oliveira Rodrigues, from UNISUL. ‘According to other published studies on this topic, this is similar to the recovery rate for treatment with drugs.
‘Moreover, 46% of these participants reported cessation of symptoms, in contrast with 13% of the NSA group. For comparison, the proportion is about 35% in patients treated with drugs.’
Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of symptoms (Picture: Getty)
In addition, the study showed a lack of side effects, with most participants reporting only mild pain at the needle site.
‘This evidences the safety of the intervention for more than six weeks,’ said Professor Rodrigues.
Co-author Dr Alexandre Faisal Cury, from USP, added: ‘We’re witnessing a veritable epidemic of mood disorders. I believe there has never been so much anxiety and depression as has been the case since the Covid-19 pandemic. Acceptance of the gold standard [antidepressants] for treatment is far from ideal.
‘In clinical practice, we see patients with chronic depression who have been taking medication for a long time and have side effects and relapses, so we need complementary options with proven benefits.’
While the team noted that longer studies with more participants are needed to fully investigate the treatment, they are confident the results will confirm their own findings, offering a new treatment for depression.
The study is published in the journal JAMA Network Open.